Minister Keyamo says N70k minimum wage insufficient, urges govt to meet unions

Minister Festus Keyamo said Nigerian workers cannot survive on the N70,000 minimum wage amid rising cost of living, speaking at the 2026 National Pre-Retirement Summit organized by XEM Consultants Limited on September 24, 2026. He urged the Federal Government to meet organised labour halfway in ongoing wage negotiations, noting unions are demanding up to N500,000.

He warned that the current wage fails to absorb economic shocks, eroding purchasing power. He also criticised some government agencies for denying workers basic allowances while approving large sums for officials' international trips, stressing that without workers, the country cannot function.

Recalling the 2024 increase from N30,000 to N70,000, Keyamo said the present level is still inadequate. He urged action, saying "I will have none of it. Without these workers, we will not have a country." What should workers and policymakers consider: Is a significant wage increase feasible given fiscal constraints, or should alternative relief measures be explored?

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/09/24/workers-cant-survive-on-n70000-minimum-wage-tinubus-minister-keyamo/